by USA TODAY

by USA TODAY

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran's state TV says the navy has sent warships on a mission to the Atlantic Ocean for the first time in the Islamic Republic's history.

The Tuesday report said that Sabalan destroyer and Khark logistic helicopter carrier will be dispatched on a three-month voyage.

It said the ships carried some 30 navy academy cadets for training, alongside an unspecified military mission. It did not mention any ports of call.

Iran aims to demonstrate the ability to project its military power across the Middle East and beyond. It has regularly deployed warships to the Gulf of Aden off the eastern coast of Africa to fight piracy and protect commercial ships.

In 2012, Iran said it aims to put warships in international waters off the U.S. coast within the next few years.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All
rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.